Railroad-frog



(N0 Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

R. SELTHUN. RAILROAD FROG.

Iva 584,486. Patented June 15, 1897.

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2 t e e h S m. e e h S 2 R F M L m SL -M RR Patented June 15,1897.

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ROBERT SELTHUN, OF IIIGI-IIVOOD, ILLINOIS.

RAi LROAD=FROG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 584,486, dated June 15, 1897.

Application filed August 31, 1896. Serial No. 604,368. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be itkn own that 1, ROBERT SELTHUN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Highwood, in the county of Lake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railroad-Frogs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in railway-frogs and means for operating the same, the object of the invention being to provide a frog which will prevent rattling when a train passes over the same, which will always insure aperfectly continuous track, and which will prevent the straining of the canaxles, the breaking of the wheels, and the cracking of the flanges thereof.

The invention consists of the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as more fully hereinafter set out and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a top plan view of my improved frog and the means for operating it simultaneously with the switch from the switchstand. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a similar section on the line 1 4. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view showing the frog in one of its positions and the guide-rod therefor. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing the connection between one of the side rails and one of the cross-bars secured thereto. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the Y formed by the juncture of the inner main and branch rails. Fig. 8 is a detail of the frog.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

My invention has been illustrated in connection with the main rails 1 and 2 and the branch rails 3 and a. A frameis formed which is made up of the cross-bars 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 and two parallel side rails 9 9, the latter being right side up, to which said cross-bars are bolted at each end and in which the frog-rail andthe ends of the main and branch rails lie. The said main and branch rails are bolted to two of saidv cross-bars at each end of the frame. These cross and side bars constituting the frame are preferably made of sections of rail road-rail, the said cross-bars being inverted and bolted to the under side of said side rails. They are therefore pendent, and their upper surfaces lie flush ,with the upper surfaces of the ties on which the said rails 9 rest. At the juncture of the inner main and branch rails 2 and 3 the frog-rail 11 is located. This frog-rail has secured or welded to it upon its under side, adjacent to one end, a pivotal bolt or pin 12, which fits within a socket 13 in the cross-bar 6, and said frog-rail extends to the cross-bar 8, its free end mounted to slide upon said cross-bar. On each side of the inner rails 2 and 3 at their point of connection one with the other are guidepieces 13 13, having angularly arranged or beveled inner ends, as clearly shown. The disconnected ends of the rails 2 and 3 have secured to the outside thereof projecting stop-pieces 14 14 for limiting the outward movement of the free end of the frograil 11. Extending through these stop-pieces is a guide-rod 15, which fits a slot 16 in the outer end of the frog-rail 11 and acts as a guide for said frog-rail. It should be stated that the guide-pieces 13 are normally out of engagement with the flange of the frog-rail 11, but lie in close relation thereto, so that should the pin or bolt 12 on the under side of said frog-rail become broken or detached the frog cannotslip from its seat. As constructed it will be seen that the frog-rail 11 is sup ported and lies upon the three central crossbars 6, 7, and 8. The opposite ends of said frog-rail and the opposite ends of the main and branch rails meet on the cross-bars 6 and 8, respectively. Consequently said frog and rails each take up one-half of the length of said frame. The breakage of the frog-rail is thereby prevented and the noise incident to the vibration or rattling thereof is obviated. It will also be seen that by reason of the guides and stop-pieces said frog-rail will be held in direct alinement with either the main or branch rails, according to the position to which it is turned.

A short distance from the frog-rail 11 the switch-rails 16 16 are located, the same being adapted to be operated from a switch-tower 17, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These switch-rails 16 are of the usual form of con struction, and have leading outwardly from them a pitman 18, which is connected to one end of a cross-head 19, secured to the outer end of a rod or bar 20, mounted for rotation in suitable bearings on the outer end of a series of ties 1O 10. The other end of said cross-head is connected through a pitman 21 with a crank-arm 22 on the lower end of a vertically-disposed operating-shaft 23, mounted for rotation on the inside of the tower l7 and adapted to be operated by a suitable lever 2 1. The opposite end of the horizontal rod or bar 20 has a crank-arm 25 thereon, which is connected through a pitman 26 with the free end of the frog-rail 11.

With the parts in the positions in which they are shown in Fig. 1 the operation is as follows: The frog-rail 11 and the switch-rails 16 are shown as connecting the rails 1 and 2 of the main line. Upon turning the operating-lever 24 the shaft 23 will be rotated in its bearings, and through the crank-arm 22 thereon and the pitman 21 will throw inwardly the upper end of the cross-head 19 and draw outwardly the lower end of said cross-head. This action through the pitman 18 will throw the switch-rails 16 out of contact with the rail 4; and bring it into contact with the rail 1. At the same time the rod or bar 20 will be rotated, turning the crank 25 upon its outer end and throwing the frog-rail 11, so that it switches from the main to the branch rails.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with the main and branch rails secured to the usual ties, of a series of cross and longitudinal bars, suitably connected one to the other, constituting a frame also secured to said ties, and a frog pivoted to one of said cross-bars, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination with the main and branch track-rails secured to the usual ties, of a series of cross and longitudinal bars suitably connected one to the other, constituting a frame also secured to said ties, a frog-rail resting upon said frame, having a pivotal bolt or pin, secured to or formed integral with one end thereof and fitting an opening in one of said cross-bars, stop-pieces secured to the open ends of said main and branch track-rails for limiting the outward movement of said frog-rail, and a guide rod or bar connecting the ends of said stop-pieces and passing through the slot or opening in said frog-rail, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination with the main and branch track-rails secured to the usual ties, of a frame made up of a pair of parallel side rails secured to the upper side of said ties, and a series of cross-bars secured to the under side of said side rails whose upper surfaces lie flush with the adjacent ties, a frog having a pin or bolt on the under side thereof fitting Within a corresponding opening in one of said cross-bars adjacent to the Y formed by the juncture of the inner main and branch rails, guide-pieces having beveled inner edges secured to said cross-bar adjacent to the pivotal point of said frog, stop-pieces for the outer end of said frog, and a guide rod or bar connecting said stop-pieces and projectin g through an opening in said frog, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT SELTHUN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. BROWN, HENRY GOTTSOHALK. 

